A Life Not So Charmed

Hunger Pangs.

Lying in the solarium, the front door slammed. I shot up, put down the boys and went to see who it was or what it was.

It was Leo, covered in head to toe in bourbon, the stench was sickly, i asked, "what on earth?"

Leo shrugged, "she poured a bottle of bourbon over my head, all i said was that we didn't need a manager to revamp the club. I can do it. I'm going for a shower."

I was about to say, "I'll call her," when he said, "don't bother, she's cut the phone lines and her cell is here."

I knew then i had to do something, Paige and Prue were at The Adirondacks. They were trying to discover what was going on with missing tourists and people drained of blood. This was something that only i could do. I knew Cole was busy, but Chris and Melinda weren't, i called them and asked them to watch the boys and Amber while i go and see their mom?

They all agreed, i got in my car and drove to the club. It was bizarre driving into the parking lot, that outdated neon sign being pulled down, the workmen and carnage everywhere.

I asked one of the men, "where's the owner, I'm her sister."

The men looked up, all of them never uttered a word, they pointed to the club.

I thanked them and walked inside, i seen as they pulled out the bar, the stools all the places we sat. Piper was sitting by the office drinking a piña colada, she was drunk, it wasn't even 1pm yet.

Piper points to the left over alcohol and says, "grab one while you can, the last one we'll have while this club is called The Return.

I was taken aback, i asked, "so, what are we calling it? Not The Spot i hope?"

Piper replies, "you've got to be kidding me, no dummy, it'll be called 'The Return.''

"Ah, i actually like that one. Piper we need to talk, before you even attempt to freeze me, remember you can't, you're drunk and could blow me up, but you need some help. I am not saying you're mentally unwell. I'm saying you're going through a midlife crisis, you have been through so much lately. I'm surprised you're still standing, but it's positive you're getting back to our roots, but as your sister I'm worried about you."

Piper not one for easy tears, she starts crying, i hold her. I ask her, "what's wrong?"

"Phoebe, it's not came, I'm late." I answered, "have you taken a test?"

"I'm sat here with a huge alcoholic beverage, do you honestly think if i was pregnant, that i would be drinking this?"

I take her hand and i look into her eyes, taking a tissue from my bag and wiping her tears, i said, "sister, you might be going through the menopause? When was your last period?"

Piper thinks and replies, "hmmmm, about two months ago? I have booked in with my doctor. So, you thinking this is a midlife crisis, sis. You're well off course."

I held her and said, "well, we will get through it together." "Thank you Phoebe, really. I know how worried you've all been. You can tell Paige and Prue it's just a temporary blip. Normal service will resume shortly."

In my head i was so relieved, but i now understand why she was acting the way she was, i might have missed having the twins had i not sought out Cole. I have noticed a huge change in my menses since they were born. I could be Perimenopausal? One can only find out once one has a test.

I begged Piper to come home, but she refused, she said, "I'm watching these guys, i want the club right. This is our return, pun intended by the way."

"Ok, I'll go home and relieve Chris and Melinda. I also need to feed them, my boobs are full."

Piper just answered, "go, I'll be fine."

I told her to keep her rage in check, she could blow up one of those men if they pissed her off enough, especially as she's drunk. Piper put down the drink, she realized how overdressed she was, she knew there was clean clothes in the office, probably from the nineties, but she unlike most of us wasn't fashion conscious. I walked across the lot, got into my car and cried, i was feeling what Piper was feeling, she felt she was losing her womanhood.

It's a common thing, most women feel this way during the menopause. I drove home and Leo was waiting in the lounge as i returned, he asks, "how is she?"

I sat down beside him, i explained that she is going through the menopause, she needs our support right now.

Leo replied, "i assumed it was that, but i didn't want to ask, besides she kicked me out. I get it now. I'll seek some advice and i will talk to her."

I told him it was a team effort, that the kids need to know, they need to understand that she won't be herself for a little while. I soon turned my attentions to Prue and Paige. I shimmered to The Adirondacks, i asked them what have they found out?

Prue said, "sis, you're not going to like this, but Sonja has been feeding from humans, Sheila hasn't but a deal is a deal. We need to go and confront them now."

I knew then that i needed to unbless their stones, to keep humanity safe. The three of us headed to their house, they weren't there. It looks as though they hadn't been there for a few days, the moldy food was a good indication of this. Their blood fridge was empty, i soon sensed we were being watched. I can't let them jump on us, i asked my sisters to join with me in saying the reversal spell, their stones were now defunct.

They would need to stick to the shadows, but they need confronted. We knew they would hear us and we yelled in the forest that we knew.

I received a text from Sheila she asks, "why? Why have you done that?"

I replied, "Sonja has been killing people for you both to feed. You knew the consequences when i gave the stones a blessing."

Sheila kept texting begging us to bless the stones again. We couldn't, she kept saying that their supply ran low, they tried and failed to replenish it. I told them, that if they kill one more person a stake in the heart often kills.

Sonja then called, she said, "it's sunny, it's daytime. We are stuck in this damn forest hunting animals, we promise to never hurt another human. Please give us one more chance, we were on the cusp of getting a new supply when Mikey discovered we had a stash in the house. Mikey took all the blood to the surgery, we couldn't take it back otherwise he would become suspicious, we are protecting you guys too. One more chance."

"I will talk it over with my sisters, then I'll get back to you."

Prue said, "well i think we should give them one more chance, Paige what do you think?"

Paige thinks for a moment and says, "i agree. Let them sweat it out in the woods for tonight. Then we will revisit it tomorrow."

I called Sonja back and told her what we discussed and she said, "we will feed on animals until you guys make your decision."

We knew we couldn't kill them, Darryl would be devastated to lose the mother of his children. We needed a plan.

Paige interjected with, "i have an idea, let's give them some blood, we can make it ourselves. We can give them three months and if they hurt another, then we'll have no other option but to kill them."

I thought, how are we to make blood? Paige must've overheard my thoughts and said, "i know a chemist, someone willing to try it."

Then it was agreed, we contacted her friend, who told her that he would get working on it. We informed the couple that if they give them a few days, then they would have some synthetic blood, that they would need to behave for three months and we would bless the stones again. Sheila and Sonja promised they would, it was just a hiccup, yes they hurt and killed people, but they were hungry. We left the mountain and went home. Damn, i needed to be home soon, Prue too, our boobs were full of milk.